This week I was very excited to have my first wedding dress appointment at a local boutique. The dress, for a lot of brides, is one of the most important dressed a person can wear and as I had no idea what style I wanted or what would suit me I really needed a good trying on session and see what I did and didn't like. I was so so (so!) excited and the place I went to was gorgeous with lots of dresses to choose from which was brilliant. The lady there told me to spend some time having a look through there selection and to just start pulling out dresses I liked the look of so that I could try them on, get a feel of what I liked and then she would offer up some alternatives to try once she had got a feel for what might suit me.
What I really liked about the shop I went too and what I would recommend to other brides is to go to somewhere where they have loads of dresses with different designers. That way you can have a thorough trying on appointment with as many dresses as you want. I tried on about ten dresses, all completely different styles, shapes, shades and designers. Also the shop had shoes, veils and hair pieces so I could try the whole ensemble on and actually see, for the first time, how I would look as a bride! Argh! So exciting!
Tip: If you have read my previous 'MISS TO MRS' posts, you will know I have four bridesmaid however, for this appointment I decided to keep it low key and just have my Mum and my Grandma there for help. On reflection, this was a really good decision. I love my bridesmaids, obviously, but I thought it would be really special to have the three generations of women in the family all together for this moment. They weren't overly opinionated and they let me think about what I was seeing and that was exactly what I needed. So before you start inviting your whole family, the extended family and the next door neighbours, think about who is going to add to your experience. Who is going to give you constructive advice and help you decide.
Also, allow yourself plenty of time. It's suprising how quickly the time goes. We were there for 3 and a half hours! We didn't rush, I didn't feel harassed or hot and bothered. When you book an appointment, go for a time in the morning and right off the whole day in your diary. It's all part of the experience of being a bride to be and it's something you want to look back on and think 'that was a great day'.
Another tip. Go prepared with the right underwear. I'm not talking Spanx but at least a strapless bra and some non VPL knickers! Don't forget, the assistant will be helping you to get in and out dresses throughout the appointment so unless you want your bum out in a thong keep this in mind! If your a confident soul and intend of going bra-less under your dress then that's fine. But nearing the end of my own appointment, another bride to be arrived and started trying dresses on in a black, yes black, thickly strapped brassiere. It definitely didn't look right and for me I wanted to see a more complete look.
I went with full make up and attempted to make my hair look nice so I could see how the dresses went with me. I always find that when I go clothes shopping, if I've not made much of an effort with myself, nothing looks right or feels right. I wanted an almost big day rehearsal. And with each dresses I tried on, I looked on the mirror and tried to imagine how I would feel on the actual day and I looked on the mirror I imagined if this was the dress I could see myself getting married in. This mind frame really helped me to narrow my search as all the dress were gorgeous, but I can't have them all!
Tip: If you have read my previous 'MISS TO MRS' posts, you will know I have four bridesmaid however, for this appointment I decided to keep it low key and just have my Mum and my Grandma there for help. On reflection, this was a really good decision. I love my bridesmaids, obviously, but I thought it would be really special to have the three generations of women in the family all together for this moment. They weren't overly opinionated and they let me think about what I was seeing and that was exactly what I needed. So before you start inviting your whole family, the extended family and the next door neighbours, think about who is going to add to your experience. Who is going to give you constructive advice and help you decide.
Also, allow yourself plenty of time. It's suprising how quickly the time goes. We were there for 3 and a half hours! We didn't rush, I didn't feel harassed or hot and bothered. When you book an appointment, go for a time in the morning and right off the whole day in your diary. It's all part of the experience of being a bride to be and it's something you want to look back on and think 'that was a great day'.
Another tip. Go prepared with the right underwear. I'm not talking Spanx but at least a strapless bra and some non VPL knickers! Don't forget, the assistant will be helping you to get in and out dresses throughout the appointment so unless you want your bum out in a thong keep this in mind! If your a confident soul and intend of going bra-less under your dress then that's fine. But nearing the end of my own appointment, another bride to be arrived and started trying dresses on in a black, yes black, thickly strapped brassiere. It definitely didn't look right and for me I wanted to see a more complete look.
I went with full make up and attempted to make my hair look nice so I could see how the dresses went with me. I always find that when I go clothes shopping, if I've not made much of an effort with myself, nothing looks right or feels right. I wanted an almost big day rehearsal. And with each dresses I tried on, I looked on the mirror and tried to imagine how I would feel on the actual day and I looked on the mirror I imagined if this was the dress I could see myself getting married in. This mind frame really helped me to narrow my search as all the dress were gorgeous, but I can't have them all!
I took this photo right before I started trying on anything, how amazing is this mirror! It was about the size of my lounge!
I had a great time trying on dresses and the more I tried on the more I got an idea of what suited my shape and how the dress made me feel was so important too. I didn't expect to, but I actually found my dress! THE dress! THE one! It was the first dress I saw and picked out and the first dress I tried on and I immediately said 'I love it!' It gave me all the feels! As it should! I carried on trying the other dresses as I needed to compare and I needed to see other styles. It came down to two dresses and I kept going in and out of the dressing room trying each one in turn with a veil, headdress and shoes on until I absolutely knew it was the perfect one for me.
For obvious reasons I'm not going to be posting pictures of it or giving you any descriptions (soz) but I am so excited and happy with it. I have now ordered it and it will take 6 months to arrive- which is another things you need to bear in mind when choosing when to go dress shopping. I will then go and have a fitting and any alterations will be made. Two other great points about where I went and something for my fellow brides to be to think about is that the boutique is ran by two seamstresses so any alterations are done in house with the person present to see me in the dress and also they store dresses until you need it at no extra fee! I am getting married in 2017 and I live in a one bedroom flat. There is no hope whatsoever of me storing my own dress so this is perfect! When I go back in 6 months I will take my bridesmaids and show them my dress which will be amazing. Now that I have chosen my dress I can imagine how things will look and the type of dress the girls will look great in, I am thinking of coral colours. There was a mannequin with a coral bridesmaid dress at the shop and we got the stand next to me so I could see if that colour worked and it did so that's another thing I got to look at too!
I had expected to blog a bit more about my quest to find the perfect dress but that's the way it goes and I couldn't be happier! The lady at the shop said it is usually the first or last dress brides go for and she was right this time!
From one VERY happy bride to be, until next time Steph x
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